Looking Back at 2025: A Year of Growth, Connection and Community Action
As we round off 2025, it feels like the perfect moment to pause and reflect on everything we’ve achieved together over the past year. It’s been a year full of learning, sharing, connection and action across the CAG Devon network — and what a year it’s been.
A Growing Network
CAG Devon has continued to expand, with 65 community groups now part of the network and more on the way. This year we welcomed groups working on food surplus, repair and reuse, community growing, composting, nature restoration and biodiversity.
A huge welcome to CAG Devon’s newest members: Moor Imagination Collective, Ivybridge Community Food, Zero Mile Gardens, Newton Abbot CIC, Honiton Repair Café, Axminster Repair Café, Axminster Allotment Association, Moretonhampstead Development Trust, OrganicARTS, Plastic Free Exmouth, Sid Valley Biodiversity Group, Topsham Library of Things and Otter River Catchment Action. We’re so glad to have you all here!
Learning Together
Throughout 2025 we hosted 21 events and training sessions for CAG members, covering a wide range of topics. Alongside hands‑on sessions on PAT Testing, Bike Maintenance and First Aid, we also focused on strengthening the foundations that help community groups thrive.
This year we ran online training on volunteer retention, exploring how to build supportive, welcoming environments, recognise contributions and create roles that keep people engaged for the long term. We also delivered funding advice sessions, helping groups navigate grant applications, diversify income streams and build financial resilience, as well as Social Media Training to help groups promote their fantastic work.
Other in-person events included themed workshops on composting, building food resilience and collaborative working for river health — all designed to help groups grow their impact.
Sharing Skills Across Devon
Skillshares remain at the heart of what we do. This year we ran two:
- A mini district-based East Devon SkillShare in April, which took attendees off‑site to the Blackdown Hills Eco Hub to learn more about biochar, and to the Thelma Hulbert Gallery to explore the power of arts in community action.
- Our network-wide SkillShare25 in Newton Abbot back in November, brought together 76 attendees from across the network to focus on the theme of Growing through Collaboration. Attendees took part in practical workshops and sessions designed to inspire, connect and empower positive grassroots action.
Both events were buzzing with ideas and conversation and were a real celebration of what communities can achieve when they come together.
Supporting Local Action Through Grants
We awarded 28 small grants in 2025, helping groups to grow their activities, promote their work and launch new projects. These grants have supported initiatives around repair, reuse, borrowing, sharing, growing, composting, food, nature and more.
Projects include purchasing materials to establish a wormery and hot composter, buying 1,800 native bulbs for a churchyard wilding initiative, and launching community litter‑picking schemes by providing equipment like litter pickers and hi‑viz jackets. It’s been inspiring to see how these small injections of funding have enabled groups to take practical, meaningful action in their communities.
Launching Together for Tomorrow
One of the biggest milestones this year was launching Together for Tomorrow, a new National Lottery–funded programme. This ambitious project supports grassroots climate action across Devon by helping communities develop practical, local initiatives and transforming libraries into sustainability hubs. We’re excited to see how the project grows in 2026 and beyond.
Ongoing Support for Groups
Alongside events and projects, we’ve continued to provide day‑to‑day support for both new and established CAG groups. This includes guidance on governance, insurance, risk assessments, setting up new activities and measuring and reporting impact. It’s a privilege to work alongside so many dedicated community organisers, helping them bring their ideas to life.
Looking Ahead
2025 has been a year of energy, expansion and collaboration. Thank you to every volunteer, organiser, partner and supporter who has contributed to this thriving network. We can’t wait to see what 2026 brings and we’re excited to continue this journey with all of you.
